Monday, July 14, 2008

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex 35-mm TLR Camera, 1936
Just a moment... How comes? 35-mm and twin-lens arrangement? And if I want to change a lens, can I? Yes, Zeiss could do it - and produced one of its least successful cameras. Heavy and bulky, it couldn't beat Kine-Exacta and was hardly a match for advanced reporter. But it looks amazing, doesn't it?See more hereOriginally posted by me @ Dieselpunk LJ

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Dirigible by Vassily Kuptsov (oil on canvas, 1933)Interesting style - very much alike second-generation Italian Futurism of the same period.Dirigible depicted is ill-fated CCCP B-5 (USSR V5). Built in 1933, it was dismantled in 1934 - its 'envelope' was leaking and generally unreliable. While a new 'envelope' development has been in progress, a lightning struck hangar near Moscow where parts of the dirigible were stored. Everything went down to ashes, not only cases with B-5 parts, but its sistership B-4 (also dismantled) and a brand-new B-7 as well.All of these airships were half-rigid, thus not falling into a 'Zeppelin' cathegory.See more of B-5 hereOriginally posted by me @ Dieselpunk LJ

1939 Porsche Typ 64 / KdF 64K10 / VW AerocoupeSportier version of VW Beetle with aluminium body, designed for '39 Berlin - Rome Rally. Weighing only 500 kg it was capable of high speeds up to 152 km/h.Only three built. Only one survived.See more hereOriginally posted by me @ Dieselpunk LJ Community

Friday, July 11, 2008

Short Brothers Sturgeonwas developed as a carrier-borne reconnaissance bomber for Fleet Air Arm. In 1948 it was already obsolete for this role, so Royal Navy employed the plane as target tug. One of the strangest-looking creations of Shorts, definitely! Its turbo-prop version would be a perfect match for some British Sky Captain.See more here

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Jaeger LeCoultre Compass
Developed by Noel Pemberton-Billing and produced by famous Swiss watchmakers, it was one of the smallest and technologically advanced cameras of the '30s.
More information here and thereOriginally posted by me @ Dieselpunk LJ Community